The OU is committed to making a difference to young people from care and we have extended our Open Futures Fund to include scholarships specifically to support care experienced young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Young people who have spent time in care can face significant barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education. Estimates suggest that only 12% of care experienced young people progress to higher education, compared to 40% of young people on average in the UK. Once there, they are one third more likely to drop out than their peers. This inequality is exacerbated by the cost of living crisis, with 44% of care experienced young people reporting that their mental health is affected by concerns about money.

Our solution

Education enables students to pursue their passions, to be creative, curious, and develop lifelong skills and knowledge that can unlock brighter futures and careers. It is an experience that should be open to everyone.

In collaboration with the John Lewis Partnership, Care Experienced Scholarships will provide young people with experience of being in care the opportunity to study an undergraduate-level qualification - for free. The scholarships launched for the first time in 2023/24 and will begin by offering four scholarships to care experienced young people, aged 25 and under.

How your support can make a difference

By making a donation to Care Experienced Scholarships you will enable young people who have faced significant barriers to entering and succeeding in higher education a chance to rewrite their futures. It is one incredible way in which you can help make a positive difference, by giving the gift of education, and by being part of the collective power of the OU donor community.

Working in Partnership

While invaluable, we know that providing education for care experienced young people is only part of the solution, which is why we are proud to be part of the John Lewis Partnership’s ‘Building Happier Futures’ programme.

The Open University has numerous support programs addressing a wide variety of limitations or disadvantages that prospective students might face. For example, we offer financial support for carers, care experienced learners, Black students and disabled veterans and those who are seeking sanctuary in the UK. We also offer the study-related costs fund, which is open to anyone on a low income. Information on all our scholarships and assistance schemes can be found here: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding